The legendary Canadian showmen of Jule and Jay J. Allen opened their own Allen Theatre on June 27, 1918 by Allen’s Theaters Ltd., housing 519 seats and was built on the site of the Commercial Hotel, which the conversion was conducted by Mrs. Florence Sutherland and the contracting team of Martin Jex and Company. Famous Players bought the Capitol in 1923.
The Capitol Theatre closed in December 1948 when Premiere Theatres Canada opened their much-larger Park Theatre nearby and was converted into a grocery store operated by D.A. Bergin.
This started life as the Midway Drive-In for almost five decades until 1997 when it was renamed the Port Hope Drive-In. The theater housed a total capacity of 483 cars.
Premiere Theatres Canada was its original operator for its first several decades of operation, but faced trouble on January 29, 1986, when Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, Cobourg’s Park Theatre, and the Midway Drive-In were sold to Iranian interests for $250,000, and the Premiere management were very worried about the purchase and popularity of moviegoers in both towns. Premiere Theatres Canada CEO Barry Allen replied that he’s unsure what plans purchasers have in mind, but he described them as “very reliable people”. Allen replied that he feels they will be interested in an idea he has for the theaters. Luckily enough, they made a deal by them for Premiere to continue operating Cobourg’s Park Theatre and Midway Drive-In for local moviegoers to enjoy first-run films and entertainment in the area, but the agreement caused nearby Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre to run its last first-run movie.
The Port Hope Drive-In last operated independently since the mid-1990s, and closed its gates in late-August 2023 for renovations, but it was confirmed as final closure because of extremely poor business. The entire theater was placed on sale afterward, which the “For Sale” sign was visible in the July 2024 Google Maps view. It’s still abandoned as of today.
The Northumberland Mall Theatres most likely opened in the Spring of 1994. It went through a series of chains including Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy Cinemas, and Ontario Theatres. Sometime in 2004, the theater began operating by an independent owner and remained like that until closing on July 15, 2014. Rainbow Cinemas reopened the theater on October 3, 2014.
The Mall Cinema opened its doors as a 200-seat single-screener on May 17, 1972 with “The Hot Rock”, and was operated by Darrell Moseley, who also operated the Kentucky Theatre and the Tri-City Drive-In. It was twinned by the early-1980s and was renamed the Mall Cinema I & II.
The Park Theatre closed in late-December 1986 with “No Mercy”, and was last operated by Ontario Theatre Group. It immediately became a teen dance club right afterward and lasted throughout the rest of the 1980s until it was converted into Toronto-based office space during the early-1990s.
Both the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Walker of Halifax, Nova Scotia, alongside manager Sidney Brownell opened Sackville’s Vogue Theatre on November 18, 1946 with “Three Little Girls In Blue” (unknown if extras added), and is the seventh theater in the Maritimes to be opened by the Walkers. Alongside Sackville, the Walkers also operated theaters in Halifax, Sydney, Shubenacadie, Springfield, and Hantsport, all in Nova Scotia. This is also the second movie theater in New Brunswick that was operated by the Walkers, with Sackville’s Imperial Theatre being the first.
Walker purchased the building five years prior in 1941. According to Walker himself, he replied to the Times-Transcript that the building had been vacant for decades since a large fire damaged the building alongside one-half of downtown Sackville in 1912.
Jeffrey Coates was its last owner of the Vogue Cinema, who began working there in September 1995 and became owner in January 2006. Unfortunately, the Vogue Cinema once faced a possible closure in 2015. According to last owner Jeffrey Coates, he replied that the bank failed to come through on their promised financial assistance after newer equipment including digital projection was installed in 2012. He also didn’t have enough money to help contractors fix a leaking roof. Because of it, Coates launched an online fundraising campaign aiming to raise $100,000 to help cover costly operational and repair bills that would later skyrocket.
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Vogue Cinema to close for the final time in early May 2023, because of lingering effects from the pandemic, financial issues, and insurmountable compounding debt that accumulated from necessary technological upgrades. In February 2026, it was announced that the former theater will be converted into Ducky’s Pub.
The Valley Drive-In located on Woodstock Road is the first drive-in theater in the Fredericton area when it opened its gates on July 23, 1951 with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride in “Ma & Pa Kettle” (unknown if extras added).
It was last operated by Jim Paton, who also operated the nearby Sunset Drive-In in the Fredericton suburb of Nashwaaksis until the Sunset’s closure after the 1986 season, leaving the Valley Drive-In the only operating drive-in theater in the Fredericton area until the end of the following season.
The Valley Drive-In closed on October 9, 1987 with the dusk-to-dawn showings of “The Secret of My Success”, “Jaws - The Revenge”, “Born in East L.A.”, and “Evil Dead 2 - Dead by Dawn”.
Correction: The Neptune Drive-In never closed in 1985. The Neptune operated throughout the entire 1980s, as confirmed by Moncton Times-Transcript archives.
According to the United Press International, the May 25, 1986 fire was caused by a faulty popcorn machine at the concession stand. A total of 50 people evacuated the Orson Welles Cinema safely.
The original Martin’s Opera House operated from January 1879 until December 5, 1898, when it was destroyed by a large fire at around 3:45 PM that evening.
Correction: The Airport Drive-In closed on Canadian Labor Day 1997, which is September 1, 1997, and not September 4. There is a notice on the showtimes section of the Ottawa Citizen saying that the theater will be “temporarily closing after Labor Day”.
The legendary Canadian showmen of Jule and Jay J. Allen opened their own Allen Theatre on June 27, 1918 by Allen’s Theaters Ltd., housing 519 seats and was built on the site of the Commercial Hotel, which the conversion was conducted by Mrs. Florence Sutherland and the contracting team of Martin Jex and Company. Famous Players bought the Capitol in 1923.
The Capitol Theatre closed in December 1948 when Premiere Theatres Canada opened their much-larger Park Theatre nearby and was converted into a grocery store operated by D.A. Bergin.
Twinned in March 1978, once known as Washington Twin Cinema.
Closed as a movie theater in 1987, last operated by Premiere Theatres Canada.
This started life as the Midway Drive-In for almost five decades until 1997 when it was renamed the Port Hope Drive-In. The theater housed a total capacity of 483 cars.
Premiere Theatres Canada was its original operator for its first several decades of operation, but faced trouble on January 29, 1986, when Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, Cobourg’s Park Theatre, and the Midway Drive-In were sold to Iranian interests for $250,000, and the Premiere management were very worried about the purchase and popularity of moviegoers in both towns. Premiere Theatres Canada CEO Barry Allen replied that he’s unsure what plans purchasers have in mind, but he described them as “very reliable people”. Allen replied that he feels they will be interested in an idea he has for the theaters. Luckily enough, they made a deal by them for Premiere to continue operating Cobourg’s Park Theatre and Midway Drive-In for local moviegoers to enjoy first-run films and entertainment in the area, but the agreement caused nearby Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre to run its last first-run movie.
The Port Hope Drive-In last operated independently since the mid-1990s, and closed its gates in late-August 2023 for renovations, but it was confirmed as final closure because of extremely poor business. The entire theater was placed on sale afterward, which the “For Sale” sign was visible in the July 2024 Google Maps view. It’s still abandoned as of today.
Once operated by Premiere Theatres Canada, and later Cineplex Odeon.
The Northumberland Mall Theatres most likely opened in the Spring of 1994. It went through a series of chains including Cineplex Odeon, Galaxy Cinemas, and Ontario Theatres. Sometime in 2004, the theater began operating by an independent owner and remained like that until closing on July 15, 2014. Rainbow Cinemas reopened the theater on October 3, 2014.
Edited from my July 29, 2024 (3:02 PM) comment:
The Mall Cinema opened its doors as a 200-seat single-screener on May 17, 1972 with “The Hot Rock”, and was operated by Darrell Moseley, who also operated the Kentucky Theatre and the Tri-City Drive-In. It was twinned by the early-1980s and was renamed the Mall Cinema I & II.
The Park Theatre closed in late-December 1986 with “No Mercy”, and was last operated by Ontario Theatre Group. It immediately became a teen dance club right afterward and lasted throughout the rest of the 1980s until it was converted into Toronto-based office space during the early-1990s.
Twinned on December 18, 1981.
The Paramount Theatre opened its doors on December 27, 1948 with Bob Hope in “The Paleface” (unknown if extras added).
I’m sorry, it’s just that my computer was also not working properly a few months ago.
Closed on March 31, 1981 with “The Last Picture Show”.
Both the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Walker of Halifax, Nova Scotia, alongside manager Sidney Brownell opened Sackville’s Vogue Theatre on November 18, 1946 with “Three Little Girls In Blue” (unknown if extras added), and is the seventh theater in the Maritimes to be opened by the Walkers. Alongside Sackville, the Walkers also operated theaters in Halifax, Sydney, Shubenacadie, Springfield, and Hantsport, all in Nova Scotia. This is also the second movie theater in New Brunswick that was operated by the Walkers, with Sackville’s Imperial Theatre being the first.
Walker purchased the building five years prior in 1941. According to Walker himself, he replied to the Times-Transcript that the building had been vacant for decades since a large fire damaged the building alongside one-half of downtown Sackville in 1912.
Jeffrey Coates was its last owner of the Vogue Cinema, who began working there in September 1995 and became owner in January 2006. Unfortunately, the Vogue Cinema once faced a possible closure in 2015. According to last owner Jeffrey Coates, he replied that the bank failed to come through on their promised financial assistance after newer equipment including digital projection was installed in 2012. He also didn’t have enough money to help contractors fix a leaking roof. Because of it, Coates launched an online fundraising campaign aiming to raise $100,000 to help cover costly operational and repair bills that would later skyrocket.
The end of the COVID-19 pandemic caused the Vogue Cinema to close for the final time in early May 2023, because of lingering effects from the pandemic, financial issues, and insurmountable compounding debt that accumulated from necessary technological upgrades. In February 2026, it was announced that the former theater will be converted into Ducky’s Pub.
Actual closing date is August 24, 1985 with “Summer Rental”, “Beverly Hills Cop”, and “Best Defense”.
Last operated as a 99-cent house before closing on October 27, 1988.
The Valley Drive-In located on Woodstock Road is the first drive-in theater in the Fredericton area when it opened its gates on July 23, 1951 with Marjorie Main and Percy Kilbride in “Ma & Pa Kettle” (unknown if extras added).
It was last operated by Jim Paton, who also operated the nearby Sunset Drive-In in the Fredericton suburb of Nashwaaksis until the Sunset’s closure after the 1986 season, leaving the Valley Drive-In the only operating drive-in theater in the Fredericton area until the end of the following season.
The Valley Drive-In closed on October 9, 1987 with the dusk-to-dawn showings of “The Secret of My Success”, “Jaws - The Revenge”, “Born in East L.A.”, and “Evil Dead 2 - Dead by Dawn”.
It appears that the Madison Drive-In closed after the August 23, 1982 showing of “Zapped” and “Paradise”.
Dan Prostrollo opened the West Twin Theaters on July 7, 1978 with “The One and Only” in Screen 1 and “High Anxiety” in Screen 2.
The Capitol was twinned in 1980, and closed for the final time on October 9, 2000. The Capitol last operated with two screens and 560 seats.
Correction: The Neptune Drive-In never closed in 1985. The Neptune operated throughout the entire 1980s, as confirmed by Moncton Times-Transcript archives.
The Fraser Mall Cinema was also a replacement of the Crescent Theatre nearby, which has its own Cinema Treasures page.
According to the United Press International, the May 25, 1986 fire was caused by a faulty popcorn machine at the concession stand. A total of 50 people evacuated the Orson Welles Cinema safely.
The original Martin’s Opera House operated from January 1879 until December 5, 1898, when it was destroyed by a large fire at around 3:45 PM that evening.
Correction: The Airport Drive-In closed on Canadian Labor Day 1997, which is September 1, 1997, and not September 4. There is a notice on the showtimes section of the Ottawa Citizen saying that the theater will be “temporarily closing after Labor Day”.
Closed as a first-run house on November 18, 1982 with “The Sender”.